Improvement in water-meters



PATENT OFFIQEov JOHN ,WATERI'IOUSE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-METERS Specilication forming part of LettersPatentNo. 146,624, dated` January 20, 1374; applicationfiled May 24,1873.

l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WArnRHoUsE, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inWater-Meters, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to apparatus designed for measuring wat-er fromservice-pipes as it is delivered to the consumer, and consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a vertical section of themeter, taken on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a verticalcrosssection of Fig. 1 taken on the line a: x.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

A represents the meter, consisting of a rectan gular-shaped metallic boxdivided into two 1 compartments, B and C, by the central verticalpartition D. E is the induction, and F the eduction, pipes. These pipesconnect with the horizontal pipe G, which is fixed in the partition D.From the horizontal tube G two pi pcs, H and I, extend downward to nearthe bottom of the meter in each compartment, as seen in Fig. 1. J is aweight in each compartn'ient, the two being connected together by therod K, which rise and fall alternately, and operate a rotating slottedtube, L, in the pipe G,

and control the ilow of the water. M is a float hinged to the side ofthe meter in each compartment. N is a lever for each float, the fulcrumsof which are at the points O O. These levers are connected with thefloats by means ot' the bars P l. (See Fig. l.) Q is an airtubeconnected with each compartment, by means of which air may pass from oneto the other.

Ve will suppose a quantity of water to be in each compartment. The waterfrom the in duction-pipe runs into and ills one compartm ent, forcingthe air contained therein through the air-pipe Q into the other c'om])artment, and th is compressed air forces the water up through theeduetion as it is being used. VWhen the water in one compartmentdescends to a certain depth, the float will follow and pull the lon garm of the lever outward, which releases the short arm, and allows theweight to fall. At the same time the weight in the other compartmen t,which is submerged in water, ascends and catches on the short end of thelever, which operation changes the flow of the water.

The tube G is open at both ends, but closed at the middle. The tube L,which is the axis upon which the weights move, fits snugly into the pipeG, and both are provided with suitable slots or openings, forchangin gthe flow of the water. The floats M are but little lighter than thewater, and are prevented from rising much above a horizontal position bythe leverbars I), which strike against the sides of the meter. A smallrod, R, is fastened in the ceny ter. of the pivot-tube L, from whence itpasses through the front of the meter in awater-tight packing, andterminates in a suitable device for connecting with any approvedregistering apparatus.

These meters may be made of any kind of metal. The water in the bottomshould be of surlieient depth to receive the ends of the pipe, toprevent the escape of the air.

For adjusting the floats, so that they will trip the weights at theproper time, lill the meter full while it is open orbefore the top isput on, and then draw oi, say, ive gallons from each compartmentfandadjust the floats to trip at this stage of the water. Then the requiredquantity of water is in the meter, and a sufficient head oi' water isallowed to ilow into one of the compartments while the egress is cutofi', all the air in one compartment will be Jf'orced into the other,and this will give a pressure sutlicient to raise the water aboutthirty-four feet. 1f it is` required to raise the water higher thanthis, then a sufficient quantity of air is forced in to give the desiredpressure. This is done by connecting an air-pump with the tube S when,say, the left compartment is nearly empty; then turn the cock T of thetube, and disconnect the pump. Now, let the water be drawn off until theother coinpartment is emptied, and the moment. the weight falls cut oitcommunication between the 'two compartments by the Vcock U. The waterwill not till the left compartment if a superfluous quantity of air hasbeen forced in, so the cock U is opened, and such air is drawn` off.

By means of a meter constructed inthis manner, the water is accuratelymeas ured as it Hows,

and may be elevated to any desired height, in the manner described. u

To the ends of the air-tube Q are attached wire baskets, in each ofwhich is a ball-valve, that closes the end of pipe Whenever the Waterrises up thereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as newr and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A Water-meter of two compartments With Weights J Jand floats M M therein, and a stationary slotted tube, and a slottedpivot-tube, so arranged that the oscillation of the Weights controls the110W of the Water, substantially as shoim and described.

3. The oats M M, and catch-levers N N, in `combination with the WeightsJ J, as and for the purposes described.

J WATERHOUSE.

Vitnesses W. L. HART,

YE. G. POTTER.

